Do you remember that day, all those years ago? When my blood was shed and your heart was turned? I do, I remember and I shall never forget it.

CALIFORNIA APRIL 1975

I am Samar. For nigh a decade of human time I have ruled these waves off the land called California, USA. I am strong, I am mighty, I am fearless. I bow to nothing and no one. As the King of the Sperm Whales it is my duty to guide my heard to a better home for the winter. We travel far. We escaped the Bering's cold bite in autumn and traded it for the warmth of paradise, now we return to that cold, forbidding sea, and the bounties of food that await us there.

We travel in packs, usually no more than 20. We are on our guard for this part of the journey. Lookouts and scouts always have a wary eye out for the dreaded human hunters. They come in droves this time of year. They know our course and they intercept us. There is little we can do once they've given chase. We try to flee but they will always catch us. With their large steel hulks and exploding harpoons, they kill us by the thousands. We are helpless and always, our cries go unheard. I never understood how such a small, fragile species could possess such powerful weapons.

I turn to my beloved wife beside me and I relate my fears to her. "What if we are caught this year?" As always she assures me. "Never fear my love, for none will harm this herd when you're around." I am consoled by her words but I know I will ask again for her reassurance. Her patience and kindness have always been her most redeeming qualities.

I am shaken from my thoughts from the last sound I'd hoped to hear. "Hunters, approaching fast from the west" came the scouts cry. Those very words are enough to make even a Sperm Whale quiver in fear. Nonetheless, I am leader and for the sake of the herd I must not show fear. "We run for the mounds, now!" I order and all make haste for the small feeding grounds far to the east.

We are too slow and the hunters catch up to us. They slow to match our speed, chasing us and wearing us down. They know, they know we must come to surface. Their awful shrieking engines sound their presence in my ears. The noise is dreadfully uncomfortable and I wish to surface but I know I cannot, for I will be killed.

Alas, we are mammals just as they are and we must have air eventually. My wife I can see is struggling. She cannot run for much longer, she must surface. I beg her not to go, that I will go first. I am swift enough to avoid those deadly harpoons but she refuses. She is too tired and too desperate to wait for me. She must go now. With a heavy heart I agree and she rushes past me to the surface. I slow and order the rest of the herd to do the same, watching her carefully as she nears the rippling waves.

She takes a gasp of air and for a few seconds all is quiet and I start to think we will be alright, then came an awful explosion. My wife screamed in agony as the harpoon struck her side. She was to have our children this autumn but I know at least her unborn young was killed instantly and didn't have to suffer like she did.

Her screams echo in my mind and I know they will haunt me for as long as I may live. Never again shall I find another like her. There are plenty of females in my herd but none will ever take her place in my heart. There are no words to describe my pain as I watch her die. She rolls to her side, fixing me with one last, love-filled stare. Then the light dies forever from her eyes.

I scream a cry of sadness, that morphs into a cry for vengeance. Lashing my tale, I charge the human vessel. I leap out of the water. I shall do what their fictional Moby Dick had done, I shall crush these bugs out of existence forever. One aims his harpoon at me and fires. The spear strikes my head and explodes. With a cry equal to that of my wife's, I fall back into the water, my blood raining down on all. I look at my herd, I stare at my firstborn son and say "My herd, is your herd. Lead them well my son." Icarus has always been strong-willed yet compassionate like his mother. He will be a fine leader. "Yes, father." He replies sadly and guides my herd to safety. I sigh. Though I know I am to die, at least my herd will be safe to fight another day.

I notice a smaller boat in the water close to me. It appears to be unarmed and its engine disabled. There could never be a better opportunity than this. I charge the craft, rearing up high out of the water. The three humans stare at me, awestruck yet fearful as they know they are to die.

But then you look at me. You, only a boy of 25. You look me in the eye and I can see your strong spirit within. I pause and drop back down, watching you closely. I knew then you were innocent. You never meant to harm me like the others. You tried to save me and although you failed, I know your heart is pure and your intentions good. I do not fear you, I have never feared any human. But unlike the rest, I respect you and I honor you.

We look each other in the eye, neither willing to move an inch. We are both frozen in time it seems. They say the eyes are windows to the soul and as mine close forever I can see yours beginning to open. My life is ending, but yours has only just begun.